Institute for Animal Health Planning Application - Update

On 12th January, the Western Area Planning Committee at West Berkshire Council reviewed planning application 20/01336/OUTMAJ Institute for Animal Health, High Street, Compton.

Lengthy discussions were had on the various issues surrounding the site, with the committee spending over 3 hours reviewing the application.

Three councillors from Compton Parish Council and a planning solicitor employed by the council attended the committee meeting to ensure the views of the parish were represented. A councillor from East Ilsley Parish Council and a resident of Compton Parish also attended.

Three proposals were put forward for voting on by members of the committee. An initial proposal to approve the application resulted in a vote of 4 for and 5 against, meaning the proposal fell. A second proposal to refuse the application resulted in a vote of 4 for, 4 against and 1 abstention, meaning this proposal also fell.

There was significant regard amongst members for the Compton Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), the policies it contains and its importance to the community. It was very much noted that whilst the Compton NDP carries considerable weight at this time, having passed independent examination and been to Full Council at West Berkshire Council where it was agreed the NDP can continue to referendum, it will carry full weight if it is successful at referendum and adopted as part of the local development plan. Should the plan be unsuccessful at referendum it would have no weight and would therefore not be taken into account in future planning decisions.

A third proposal was therefore made to defer the decision on this application until after the Compton NDP referendum. All members of the committee voted in favour of the proposal and so the decision on this application is deferred until after the Compton NDP referendum has been held.

The referendum on the Compton Neighbourhood Plan, also known as the Compton Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), will be held on 10th February 2022. The question that will be asked at the referendum is: Do you want West Berkshire District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Compton to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?